Receptacle for separating solids from liquids.



A. J. ARBUGKLE. REGEPTAOLB FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS. IAPPLICATION FILED MAY23,1910.

1,051,662,. Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

zoLuMnlA PLANMnM-H' (20.. WASHINGTON. 0. c4

UNITED STATESPAIIENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER JOHN ARBUCKLE. OF JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL.

RECEPTACLE FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS.

To a "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .ALEXANDER J oun An- BUCKLE, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain, and resident of Johannesbur Transvaal, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements Relating to Receptacles forSeparating Solids from Liquids, of which the following is aspecification.

The improvements comprised in this invention are particularly applicableto the vats, tanks or vessels employed for thickening ore pulp orseparating ore in a granular or pulverulent condition from liquids, suchas water, or cyanid or other solutions.

The invention may also be utilized in vessels employed for se iiaratingthe bulk of the water or other liquid from other mixtures of solids andliquids.

lVith the object of obtaining a product of greater, and more or lessuniform, consistency, density or thickness, ithas heretofore beenproposed to place one or more barriers or obstructions inside theseparating vessel below the normal level assumed by the mass of settledsolids; and ithas been proposed to construct such barriers orobstructions in the form of serrated or perforated flat, circular platesor disks, convex plates, cones or hemispheres. Vith these devices it isimpossible, while the operation of separating the solids and liquids isproceeding, to regulate or adjust the sizes of the passage or passagesformed or provided thereby for the solids. Once the device has beeninstalled, and the operation commenced, the size of the said passage orpassages has been unalterable without more or less completely emptyingthe vessel; and with the vessel empty any alteration or adjustment hasnecessitated alterations in the device or its supporting means, and eventhen it has not lent itself to any nicety of adjustment.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective devicefor the purpose stated, which can be readily adjusted in order toregulate, (increase or diminish) the size of the passage or assages forthe solids.

The device is such t at any desired adjustment can' be made while theapparatus is in operation.

The device consists essentially of a spi 'al or helical blade, screw orworm combined with means for rotating it within the mass of settledsolids in order to raise or lower it therein.

To elucidate the detailed description of Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed May 23, 1910.

drawn to an enlarged scale.

Serial No. 562,913.

my invention 1 append a sheet of drawings wherein- Figure .1 representsan inverted conical separating vessel with the device arranged inoperative position therein. Fig. 2 is a view of parts of the devicedetached and I I Fig. 3 is a plan view oi the spiral blade or screwshowing its operating spindle in cross section and the guide bearing forthe lower end of the spindle in dotted lines, and Fig. 4; is a plan viewof the upper end of an operating spindle, the nut through which itworks, and a portion of the girder which supports the nut.

In Fig. l. of the drawings 1 represents the inverted conical separatingvessel provided at the bottom with an outlet 2 for the thickened orepulp and with concentric rim or annular overflow launders 3, 4: aroundthe top or upper edge thereof in which the over flowing sepa'atcd liquidis received, and from which it is conveyed by any suitable means. 5represents a framework for supporting the vessel 1.

6 see Figs. 1, 2 and 3rcprcsents the spiral or helical blade, screw orworm which is arranged inside the vessel 1 at a suitable distance abovethe outlet 2, the position in which it is placed being such that whenthe separation of the solids and liquid is proceeding a quantity of thesettled solids is always above it. When the blade or screw is inpositionscc Fig. l-there is provided between its outer edge and thewalls of the vessel 1 an annular opening or passage through which thethickened pulp or settled solids must. pass to the outlet 2. As will beunderstood .on consideration of the drawing, the blade or screw 6 alsoprovides a passage 7 between its overlapping portion, through which thethickened pulp may also pass to the outlet 2. In the drawing saidhelical blade or screw 6 is shown comprising slightly more than oneconvolution or coil, the extent of the overlap or amount by which itexceeds one convolution being indicated at ain Fig. 3.

The helical blade (3 may be suitably attached to or constructed integralwith a hollow core, boss or hub member 8, which serves, as hereinafterexplained, for fixing it to its operating spindle 9; or the blade may befashioned in one piece with the spindle.

The boss or hub member 8 of helix 6 is Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

shown in Figs. 2 and 3 secured to the spindle 9 by means of a key 10; 11in Fig. 2 representing a collar on spindle 9 upon which boss or hubmember 8 rests when fixed.

The spindle 9 which is vertical and disposed centrally of the vessel1-see Fig. 1- at its lower end and beneath the helix 6 projects througha guide bearing 12 which is riveted or otherwise secured as indicated at13 to the sides of the vessel 1.

The spindle 9-see Fig. l extends above the top of the vessel 1 and it isprovided at its upper end with a screw-thread 1e for a suitable portion01": its length. The screwthreaded portion let works through astationary nut or interiorly threaded block 15 which is carried by agirder or beam consisting of the two parallel channel irons 16, 17,connected by the top and bottom transverse straps or plates 18. The beamor girder extends across the top of the vessel 1 and is supported at itsextremities upon angle brackets 19 riveted or otherwise secured to theinside of vessel .1 at the top.

20 in Fig. 2 represents bolts for fixing the girder to the anglebrackets 19. The nut 15 is of approximately square shape externally andit is constructed at the top on two opposite sides with ribs orprojections 21, 22, which rest upon the inner edges of the channel.irons 16, 17. The nut 15 is also constructed on two opposite sides withgrooves 23, 2 1; being bolts which pass through the channel irons 16.17, and engage the grooves 23, 24. The bolts 25 operate to preventmovement of the nut in an upward direction.

The spindle 9 above the screw-threaded portion 14 may as shown beprovided with a square end for the reception of a handle, hand-wheel orother device for rotating it.

In order to adjust or alter the position of the helical blade or screw 6the spindle 9 is rotated by means of a handle or hand-wheel placed onthe upper end thereof. This screws the spindle through the stationarynut 15 in an upward or downward direction (according to the direction inwhich the spindle is rotated) and the spiral blade or screw rotatingwith the spindle 9 worms or screws its way through the mass of settledmaterial in the bottom of the vessel.

By constructing the device as above described it will be understood thatit can be screwed up or down in the mass of settled material while thesettlement of said material is proceeding; further, that by raising andlowering the helical blade or screw the quantity of solids which ispermitted to pass to the outlet can be regulated as may be desired.

Instead of arranging the spindle 9 to project through the top of thetank 1 it may be arranged to pass through the bottom thereof.

Any other suitable means may be employed for rotating the spindle 9 toraise or lower the helical blade or screw.

W hat I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patentis 1. In combination, a settling tank having a discharge outlet forsettled solids in its bottom, and a normally stationary helical blademounted over said outlet below the normal level of solids in the tank,said blade being slightly spaced from the wall or walls forming theoutlet, and adapted to form dis charge passages between said walls andthe blade and between the convolutions of the blade, and to prevent theformation of passages through the center of the settled mass.

2. In combination, a settling tank having a discharge outlet for settledsolids in its bottom, a normally stationary helical blade mounted oversaid outlet below the normal level of solids in the tank, said bladebeing slidably spaced from the wall or Walls forming the outlet, andadapted to form dis charge passages between said walls and. the bladeand between the convolutions of the 'blade, and to prevent the formationof passages through the center of the settled mass, and means forraising and lowering said blade.

3. In combination, a settling tank having a discharge outlet for settledsolids in its bottom, a normally stationary helical blade mounted oversaid outlet below the normal level of solids in the tank, said bladebeing slightly spaced from the wall or walls forming the outlet, andadapted to form discharge passages between said walls and the blade andbetween the convolutions of the blade, and to prevent the formation ofpassages through the center of the settled mass, and means for rotatingsaid blade to adjust its position relatively to the out-let.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER JOHN ARBUCKLE. i tnesses IV. S. Aves, L. F. HELLIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained-for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, *Washington, I 0.

